Forum: Give future HDB residents a chance to live close to greenery too

I read with interest the debate over the proposed public housing developments at Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks (‘Nothing is cast in stone’: MPs pledge to raise concerns over Maju Forest, Gillman Barracks, Aug 1).

I understand why residents and nature groups are concerned. Singapore should protect biodiversity where possible, and agencies should continue to study how mature trees, wildlife corridors, streams and natural buffers can be retained.

But there is also an uncomfortable question we should be honest enough to ask: When some residents object to new HDB flats near their homes, are they speaking only for nature, or are they also protecting an exclusive advantage they currently enjoy?

A forest view, a quiet buffer, lower density and a sense of exclusivity are real benefits. There is nothing wrong with residents valuing these things. But if the argument is framed as a matter of public interest, then the wider public interest must also be considered.

Public housing is not an intrusion. It is how many Singaporeans get the chance to live in well-connected and established parts of the country.

If existing residents have enjoyed proximity to greenery for years, why should future HDB residents be denied the same opportunity simply because the land is currently beside someone else’s home?

This applies not only to Maju Forest, but also to Gillman Barracks. Both are valuable green or heritage-adjacent spaces. But they are also located in a land-scarce country where housing demand remains real.

The question should not be reduced to nature versus homes. It should be about fairness, balance and responsible planning.

We should be careful not to let the desire to preserve quiet surroundings, private views and neighbourhood exclusivity be mistaken for an absolute public good.

Every housing decision in Singapore involves trade-offs. Those trade-offs should not always fall on young families, first-time buyers and future residents who also want a chance to live in mature or central locations.

If Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks are to be partly developed, the new estates should be planned generously, with greenery, shade, walking trails, heritage elements and views that can be shared by more Singaporeans. Not preserved mainly for those who already live beside them.

Phillip Lim